Thursday, 22 November 2018

No Fuss Mince Pies | Vegan

You should all know by now that I am not the best when it comes to getting creative in the kitchen. I am blessed to have a husband who cooks for me and I'm a creature of habit when it comes to my eating so you'll sadly never find me creating any amazing recipes. However, what I am very good at is finding quick and easy solutions and that's exactly why these no fuss vegan friendly mince pies have been a favourite of mine for the past few years.

Now depending on your tastes these mince pies could be as simple as two or three ingredients which are super easy to find in any supermarket. All you need is a pack of Jus Rol Shortcrust Pastry and a jar of mincemeat. From all the years of making these mince pies I have found that the majority of supermarkets own brand mincemeat tend to be vegan friendly. I will always advise you to check the labels but if in any doubt I can confirm that this Tesco version is clearly labelled as suitable.

If you wanted to make your mince pies a little sweeter you also have the option of the addition of some fondant icing. Again, this kind of icing tends to be vegan friendly and the Tesco version is suitable but you should be able to find this in most supermarkets.

Another reason why I love to make these mince pies is because they are so quick and easy. Simply cut out some circular shapes into your pastry and place them either inside cupcake cases and onto a baking tray, or in a cupcake baking tray. Just remember to grease your tin or else they may end up getting stuck!

Next you need to dollop a small tablespoonful of mincemeat into your pies and decide how you want to top them. I tend to go for festive pastry shapes like gingerbread men, hearts or holly. I like doing it this way because you can still see the mincemeat rather than them being completely enclosed but the choice is yours! You may wish to make complete little pastry lids for your pies so they resemble more traditional mince pies.

Once your pies are topped just pop them into the oven at 180 degrees for about 22 minutes. It's best to keep an eye on them to make sure they don't burn but this tends to be about the right cooking time in my own oven. As soon as they look browned then it's time to take them out.

If you've picked up some fondant icing you may like to top your pies with icing shapes too like I've done here, or completely cover the pie with a lid of icing. And to finish them just sprinkle with a pinch of icing sugar.

They really couldn't be any easier, unless of course you just buy a box of mince pies! But personally I really enjoy making my own in this way and I think they make a nice touch for festive gatherings. They show that you've made a bit of effort and, in my opinion, they taste much nicer fresh from the oven. They're also a fun yet simple festive activity that everyone of all ages can enjoy taking part in.

Will you be trying your hand at making your own mince pies this Christmas!??